Moldova joining EU without Transdniestria possible but undesirable - EU ambassador to Moldova

CHISINAU. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Resolving the Transdniestrian conflict should proceed in parallel with Moldova's integration with the European Union, but Moldova joining the EU without Transdniestria is possible yet undesirable, European Union Ambassador to Moldova Janis Mazeiks said.

Mazeiks told the NordNews television channel that he hopes that the processes will proceed in parallel, as Moldova will hold EU accession talks while working on the country's reintegration. The EU is working with Moldova within its internationally recognized borders, and therefore, the Transdniestrian region is part of it, Mazeiks said.

At the same time, Moldova should not become a hostage to the solution of a quite complicated problem, the Transdniestrian settlement, he said.

In this respect, Mazeiks said he does not rule out that the process of EU integration will proceed in several stages. This issue will be discussed at the talks between Chisinau and Brussels, he added.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has earlier allowed for the possibility of Moldova joining the EU in two stages. "We are working on settling the Transdniestrian conflict. However, this unsolved problem should not become an obstacle to Moldova's integration into the European Union. In the worst-case scenario, if we can't solve the Transdniestria problem before joining the EU, we may carry out EU integration in two steps: first the right bank of the Dniester and then the left bank. When our citizens from the left bank see how life is improving, they will also want to join the EU," Sandu said.

On November 8, the European Commission issued a recommendation for the Council of the EU to start negotiations on Ukraine's and Moldova's accession to the EU. Popescu said when commenting on the decision that Moldova's integration into the EU and Transdniestria's reintegration should go in parallel, and if the problem of Transdniestria is not settled, EU standards would have to be implemented first on the right bank of the Dniester and then on its left bank.